Cease Striving

"Stop wiggling!", the anxious Mother said to her child. It was obvious that standing in the grocery store line with 4 people ahead of them was not what the child had in mind as a good time. Exasperated and overwhelmed, the young Mother said in half moan half threat, " Just be still! It will be over soon!"


I often think of that scene when I become like a 2 year old waiting...waiting for an answer that never seems to come. Waiting for an adventure to begin...waiting for my family to arrive on a visit...waiting for a life-changing decision to happen. I must say that "waiting" is not my strong point. I am more of an immediate gratification type person. My Mother taught me that patience is a virtue but God is teaching me how to be patient!

I don't always like the lesson, but one thing I have come to trust is that God is perfect in all His ways. He sees the beginning and the end. He is a careful planner with my best interests in mind.

When I became a Christian, I gave God free reign to guide my life. He has never let me down. So I trust Him but still, waiting is hard. I sense He often tells me to "Be still and know that I am God". So that is what I am doing concerning my latest issues. I am going to be still...and live with the knowledge that He is God...He has, will, and always will take care of me.

Princess

When anyone asked me ,"What do you want to be when you grow up?" I would always answer with the same three choices. "I want to be a Princess, a Jew, and an Indian"(it was not politically incorrect at that time). Years later my Mother told me that it was impossible for me to be those since I had not been born into any of those social or cultural families. While it did not shatter my constitution, I was a little disappointed. I had already imagined my dress and tiara, what horse I would ride barebacked, and all the great songs and dances I would do at every occasion. I think what I really loved was the pageantry. Each of these cultures are so rich in their customs that I found myself daydreaming as a child of faraway, wild places.


When I became a Child of God imagine my surprise to find out that I was a Princess because my Heavenly Daddy is a King!....I was adopted into a Jewish family because I was bought by the Blood of Jesus!...and for the Native American? Well, I may have to let that go unless I can find some distant relative whose is Native American. (I'm still working on it! )


So it seems that my girlhood dreams are true. How like God to give you the desires of your heart! This t-shirt by Gardenfire is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It reminds me that my Jesus loves me and calls me His own.


Any other Princesses out there? Welcome to the Family!!!

Bible Smuggler

We live in a country where the ability to posses a bible is free... at least for now.
We serve a God who has charged us with sharing His word, living the Word's standard, and be a light in the darkness.
But what if darkness was all we knew and God's word was not available? Who would teach us? Who would bring us the "Good News"?
We are instructed to give Hope to a dying world. And there is no greater place on Earth where the word is needed than in darkness. Find a patch of darkness and be the light.
Spread the Light...
Spread the Hope...
Spread the Word.

Secret Admirer

Remember your first card from a "secret admirer"? The imagination runs wild with anticipation of who this person might be. Handsome or beautiful, smart, funny, spontaneous, and totally devoted. Yes, we can dream the perfect person...but the reality is not quite that perfect.
Then along comes the one true love of our lives. The only pure perfection...the only lover of our souls...Jesus. Let's just say that Jesus never disappoints. He always lives up to our expectations...always exceeds our dreams...always gives His all. Now who wouldn't want someone like that in their lives?
Jesus promises to be with us through everything. Jesus has sacrificed everything for us. Jesus is the constant and purest form of love we will ever know.
Read your Bible...it is not really a secret how Jesus feels about us! But it is the one love that never lets go!

What Shall I Call You?

We don't like labels that are given to identify us as individuals. Words used to signify cognitive ability or disability...words to point out physical attributes least desired by today's standards of beauty...negative ethnic or religious names...words that are meant as slurs. These words are often meant to put down the namee and raise the importance of the namer. How ridiculous!
Yet what do you think of when you hear the word "Christian"..."Believer"..."Bible-Banger"..."Born Again"? These words are often used in a negative way to identify those of us who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior. We wear the names gladly but humbly. For in wearing them, we are stating that we feel a responsibility to share our Faith...share the Truth. We are the living examples of God's Grace and Redemptive Power for a dying people. That is a pretty tough job if done well.
A young teen, angry and high on drugs, once yelled at me..."You Jesus lover!!!" At first I was taken aback and felt insulted. But I quickly realized that I had just been associated with the most precious One in all the world! So, call me names...go ahead and think I am narrow-minded...peg me for a freak. But I am hear to tell you that not one of us will escape judgement. Jesus offers you a way out through His shed blood. If this shirt offends you I am sorry for that was not my intent but Truth must be told.
Wear Gardenfire's truth boldly and wear the names gratefully. God bless you this and every day...